pounce
1
[ pouns ]
/ paʊns /
verb (used without object), pounced, pounc·ing.
to swoop down suddenly and grasp, as a bird does in seizing its prey.
to spring, dash, or come suddenly: Unexpectedly she pounced on the right answer.
verb (used with object), pounced, pounc·ing.
to seize (prey) suddenly: The bird quickly pounced its prey.
noun
the claw or talon of a bird of prey.
a sudden swoop, as on an object of prey.
Origin of pounce
1
1375–1425; late Middle English; perhaps akin to
punch1
OTHER WORDS FROM pounce
pounc·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby pounce
Definition for pounce (2 of 3)
pounce
2
[ pouns ]
/ paʊns /
verb (used with object), pounced, pounc·ing.
to emboss (metal) by hammering on an instrument applied on the reverse side.
Origin of pounce
2
1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps identical with
pounce1
Definition for pounce (3 of 3)
pounce
3
[ pouns ]
/ paʊns /
noun
a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, or to prepare parchment for writing.
a fine powder, often of charcoal, used in transferring a design through a perforated pattern.
Also called pounce bag, pounce box.
a small bag filled with pounce and struck against a perforated design.
verb (used with object), pounced, pounc·ing.
to sprinkle, smooth, or prepare with pounce.
to trace (a design) with pounce.
to finish the surface of (hats) by rubbing with sandpaper or the like.
Origin of pounce
3OTHER WORDS FROM pounce
pounc·er, nounExample sentences from the Web for pounce
British Dictionary definitions for pounce (1 of 3)
pounce
1
/ (paʊns) /
verb
(intr; often foll by on or upon)
to spring or swoop, as in capturing prey
noun
the act of pouncing; a spring or swoop
the claw of a bird of prey
Derived forms of pounce
pouncer, nounWord Origin for pounce
C17: apparently from Middle English
punson pointed tool; see
puncheon ²
British Dictionary definitions for pounce (2 of 3)
pounce
2
/ (paʊns) /
verb
(tr)
to emboss (metal) by hammering from the reverse side
Word Origin for pounce
C15
pounsen, from Old French
poinçonner to stamp; perhaps the same as
pounce
1
British Dictionary definitions for pounce (3 of 3)
pounce
3
/ (paʊns) /
noun
a very fine resinous powder, esp of cuttlefish bone, formerly used to dry ink or sprinkled over parchment or unsized writing paper to stop the ink from running
a fine powder, esp of charcoal, that is tapped through perforations in paper corresponding to the main lines of a design in order to transfer the design to another surface
(as modifier)
a pounce box
verb (tr)
to dust (paper) with pounce
to transfer (a design) by means of pounce
Derived forms of pounce
pouncer, nounWord Origin for pounce
C18: from Old French
ponce, from Latin
pūmex
pumice